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10 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 1, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com a proud supporter of Power plant needed By Moira Welsh TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE ATHENA Awards Congratulations to all the 2008 nominees and this year's ATHENA recipient for all your outstanding contributions to the community. Watch the ATHENA Gala on November 5, at 9:00pm. Go to www.tvcogeco.com for other air dates. Energy Minister George Smitherman says a gas power plant in the southwestern Toronto region will be healthier than Mississauga's coal-burning plant the province recently closed. Smitherman spoke to a crowd of several hundred Tuesday night in a Mississauga town hall meeting to discuss Ontario's plan for a new natural gas power plant it will locate in Oakville, Mississauga or Etobicoke. "There's no single bigger contribution we can make to Ontarians than the elimination of coal-fired generation," Smitherman said. While many of the questions did not focus on the plant's location, Smitherman said the area needs the plant because it consumes more energy than it creates. When asked about the consultation for power plants in other Toronto regions, he said, "I guess nobody really wants energy plants in their community. It doesn't negate the need that we have." The town hall was held at Mississauga's Living Arts Centre. As expected, it was a tough crowd. Smitherman is not new to controversy; he managed the health ministry for five years. But provincial plans to build gas power plants to expand the GTA's supply have sparked an outcry from community groups. The Ontario Power Authority says a new plant is needed to replace the coalfired Lakeview Generating Station in Port Credit, which was shut down in 2005 and later demolished. The site was considered the prime location for a gas-fired plant until a citizens' group campaigned successfully against it. The OPA is now seeking a new location for roughly 850 megawatts of power generation, in south Etobicoke, Mississauga or Oakville. On Oct. 2, it issued a request for qualifications for energy companies interested in bidding on the project. (The OPA has said the region's demands are growing twice as fast as the provincial average.) The short list of companies will be announced early next year, when proposals are requested. OPA spokesperson Jerry Crown said a winner will be contracted in June. Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion said it is time for Etobicoke or Oakville to take a plant, as Mississauga is getting a 280-megawatt gas-fired plant near Dixie Rd. and Queensway E. CITIZENSHIP TEST PREPARATION Learn All About Canada *No Charge 6 SATURDAY CLASSES 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. NOVEMBER 8 - DECEMBER 13, 2008 Adult Learning Centre Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School 171 Speers Rd., Oakville REGISTER NOW [905] 849-7555 ext. 223 Your Link the Future SPACE AGE SHELVING The Storage Specialists In Home Consultation Apa tme ts Apartment m t Home Of ces Home Offices ome o es Pantry Pa try Garag Ga age a Laundry La nd y a dr C ose s M r or Closets & Mirro Doors se o 3350 Fairview Street between Walkers & Guelph Line 905-333-1322 2555 Erin Centre Mississauga 905-542-0353 www.spaceageshelvingburlington.com www.spaceageshelving.ca